James charles anj



1. CHARLES AND P. HOLLERAN.

MINE CAR CHECK LOCK.

APPLICATION men OCT-3.19M.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

cranes 6% Pairclflllema.

PATEN T OFFICE.

JAMES R E AND FATBICK HQLLEB N; O1 QQKEBUBG; JEENN YL A NI Y (MINE-CAB-CI-IECK 1306K Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 11, 1919.

Application 111cc October 3; .1917 Se ial No. 1.9%,538.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES CHARLES and PATRICK HOLLERAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Cokeburg, in the county of Vashington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ltline-Car-Check Locks; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. a

The primary object of this invention is to provide a lock or holder for securing miners checks to cars in such a fashion that they can not be removed until the car is dumped.

It is customary for miners to keep tally of the number of cars which they have loaded by use of checks bearing their number. These checks are attached to the cars when filled, and are removed when the cars are dumped and we provide a simple device so constructed as to make it impossible to remove a check without first tilting the car.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a check holder having a body formed with a V-shaped channel or recess in which a locking ball operates, a spring hook secured at one end to the body and projecting across the lower end of the recess, and a cover plate which closes the recess.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of our in vention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing the check lock secured to the wall of a car,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, with the cover plate removed,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cover plate, looking against the inner face thereof,

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the plane of line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the check.

Fig. 6 is a similar View to Fig. 2 only showing the device occupying an inclined position caused by the car being dumped and which positions the-ball so that the catch may be actuated to remove the check.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the base or body of our improved check holder, which, in the present instance, is shown in the form of a block rounded at its upper end, but which it will no understood, may be made of any suitable shape. The block or body is formed with a pair of attaching ears 2 through which fasteners 3 extend to secure the device to the side t of a mine car. The outer face of the body 1 is formed with a V-shaped channel 5 of the V-shaped channel with a groove 7 which deepens as it approaches the V-channel, and which communlcates with said channel at the meetlng point of the arms thereof.

A spring hook or catch 8 formed of an elongated strip of metal is secured at its upper end to the body by means of pins 9. The shank 10 of the hook tapers toward its lower end and has formed on its free terminal an outwardly facing bill 11 which projects beyond the plane of the outer face of the body and which points upwardly. When the mine car is in its normal position, the hook 8 lies in a vertical plane, and the locking ball 12 lies in the bottom of the V-channel behind the hook and prevents the hook being forced inwardly by means of the stud or button 13 secured to the shank and extendmg outwardly therefrom.

A cover plate 14 is secured to the outer face of the body by means of suitable screws or other fasteners 15 and is formed with openings to receive the outer ends of the pins 9. The plate is formed with a central opening 15 to accommodate the button 13 and is further provided on its inner side with a depression 16 into which the terminal of the bill 11 extends. The cover plate is formed upon its inner side adjacent its lower edge with a shallow recess 17 which opens upon the lower edge of the plate and the wall of which is spaced from the body, leaving an entrance opening 18 into which a check 19 having an opening 20, may be forced.

From the; foregoing description taken 1n connection wvith the accompanying drawings, 1t Wlll be seen that when a car has been filled and is standing in an upright position,

a check 19 may be securely locked thereto by being forced through the opening 18.

The inner edge of the check rides over the bill of the hook, forcing the same downwardly and a further inward movement of the check allows the hook to spring outwardly into the opening 20*. Before the check can be removed, the hook must be forced inwardly and this can not be done as long as the car remains standing in an upi right position, because of the ball 12. hen

the car is tilted, this ball rides into one of the arms of the V-shaped channels 5 and then the hook 8 may be forced inwardly by of parts may be made without departing of the channel, a ball operable within the from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, we claim I 1. In a check holder, a body having an inclined channel formed in one face thereof, a groove formed in the body and communieating with the channel, a spring locking element secured at one end wlthin the groove and projecting across the channel, a ball operable within the channel and normally resting between the locking element and inner wall of the channel, and means for forcing the. locking element to an inoperative position when the body is tilted.

2. In a check holder, a body formed in 7 one face with an inclined channel, the body being also formed with a recess c0m1nunieating with the lower end of the channel, a springhook secured at one end within said recess and projecting across the lower end channel to hold the hook against inward movement,'an apertured cover plate, and a push button secured to the hook and projecting through the aperture in the cover plate.

3. In a check holder of the character described, a body formed in one face with a V-shaped channel, the body being also formed with a recess communicating with the center of the V-shaped channel, and a spring hook secured at one end within the recess and projecting across the center of the channel, a

ball operable within the channel and normally resting behind the spring hook to prevent an inward movement thereof, a cover plate, a push button secured to the spring hook and projecting through the cover plate, the cover plate being recessed on its inner side to provide an opening through which a check may be inserted to engage the hook.

4. In combination, a body adapted to be secured to a tilting base and formed in its outer face with a V-shaped channel, the body being also formed with a recess communicating at its lower end with the central portion of the channel, a spring hook secured at one end within the recess and extending across the central portion of the channel, the hook being formed on its free end with an outwardly facing bill, a ball operable within the channel and resting normally behind the hook, a cover plate formed with an opening, a push rod secured to the hook and projecting through the opening in the cover plate, and an apertured check insertible between the cover plate and body to lockingly engage the spring hook, said ball holding the hook against inward movement until the body is tilted.

5. A check lock comprising a body having a recess intersected by a V-shaped groove, a spring catch having one end secured in the recess and having its bill portion normally projecting beyond the outer face of said body, a ball movable in the groove and recess and adapted to hold the catch against inward movement when the body is disposed vertically and to spring the catch when the body is tilted, and a cover secured to the body and closing the recess and groove and having a cut-away portion on its inner face to define a catch receiving groove.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES CHARLES. PATRICK HOLLERAN. Witnesses:

A. J. MARTIN. H. D. LOTT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

' 'Washington, D. G. 

